60/80 grid on RTS 400?

threesixright

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I’m sanding some beams (ceiling), to bare wood. With my Rotex 125 its very difficult (sone its above your head)

Any change the RTS 400can (easily) do coarse grits like 60 and 80? The RTS js  rectangular and can be hold with one hand. Any better alternative?

Thanks!

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I‘m using 80 grit a lot on my RTSC 400.
Have found myself longing for some coarser grit as well, but have not bought some yet, mostly since I normally turn to a Rotex once the real need for course grit arises.

But no issues with the 80 on RTSC, then, why should there be?
A sander is a sander is a sander...

;)
 
grobkuschelig said:
But no issues with the 80 on RTSC, then, why should there be?
A sander is a sander is a sander...

Hi! Thanks. I saw some review stating it was not powerfully enough (watt) [emoji848], which made me doubt.  They also called it a finishing sander.

The beams are stained and I want to bring it back to bare wood.  The rotex is to heavy for me (yeah I’m a wuss [emoji4]). I need to do 50 m2 [emoji3]

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It will be a lot slower than the Rotex, obviously!

But it will be lighter to hold. ;)
How about a powerplaner?
That might make easier work of it and you might be able to pick one up cheap.

Other than that, I would suggest the ETS EC 150, as a midway solution between RTS and Rotex in Terms of Power/Weight...
 
grobkuschelig said:
It will be a lot slower than the Rotex, obviously!

Whats you thought, like ½ the speed, ¼ speed of the rotex?

I have a power planner, but not the guts [emoji4]for this

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Try belt sander. Even if you don't have one it's worth buying for a 50 m2 job.
 
Belt sander might work but most will be considerably heavier than the Rotex 125(at 4.4 lbs). The RTS 400 is certainly lighter at 2.6lbs. and can easily be used one handed but with the 2mm stroke it is not as aggressive as the Rolex (3.6mm stroke). I have a DTS and I was very pleasantly surprised with its power but still at 2mm stroke, as you said, it is a finish sander. The best alternative that I see mentioned here is the ETS EC. It only weighs 2.6 lbs. (just like the RTS400). If you go with the 150mm version you will have to buy additional sandpaper but that size allows you to go to a 5mm stroke version which will be more aggressive. It does not have a gear mode like rotex but at virtually half the weight it is whole lot easier to use over your head. The ETS EC’s are also low profile which makes them a lot easier to handle on walls and ceilings. You can get the ETS EC in 125mm and use the sandpaper that you already have for your Rotex  125 but that model is only available in a 3mm stroke and if you want more aggressive I would suggest the 5mm stroke (only available in the 150 mm model).
 
Also, Festool makes sandpaper for all of the Sanders I mentioned above down to 40 grit. You might want to try that. If you are using the Rotex 125 in gear mode with 80 grit and it is taking forever you might need to go down in grits first. The Rotex is a powerhouse, especially in gear mode, so if it is not getting the job done quickly and efficiently you might be in the wrong grit. I would want to figure that out first. The rest of these sanders are lighter and therefore easier to use over your head but none of them are as powerful as the Rolex in gear mode.
 
I've used my RTS 400 REQ with 80 grit on base and door casings.  Performance surprised me, but I think with 50m2, it might be a bit slow.  If you have one, I'd buy 10-packs of 60 and 80 grit.  Like you said, can't argue with the weight.
 
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